American Overseas School of Rome forward Natalia DiMatteo tries to lay n the ball against Aviano's Aubrey Cannon during pool play of the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 11, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
WIESBADEN, Germany – During a timeout early in the third quarter against Rota, Emi Herrera pointed to exit signs hanging opposite the Bahrain bench at the Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center.
He gave his players an ultimatum as they faced a 20-point deficit.
“I said, ‘Either we go, or we play the game,’” Herrera said. “And the kids said, ‘No, coach, we’re going to stay until the end.’
“When they told me that at the timeout, I said, ‘These kids are coming back.’”
The Falcons made sure their coach’s confidence rang true. They roared back to a 39-34 victory during pool play of the 2026 DODEA-Europe Division II basketball championships on Wednesday.
Bahrain, the tournament’s eighth seed, hadn’t won against DODEA opposition prior to stepping on the floor at Clay Kaserne. Yet the Falcons (2-6) beat sixth-seeded Marymount in the opener 44-35 and followed that by outscoring the third-seeded Admirals 29-5 in the second half.
“The game’s never over,” Bahrain point guard Diego Mercado-Rodriguez said. “We hit out shots today. We played great defense. We were able to shut down a few crucial players of theirs, and it was a great experience.”
Mercado-Rodriguez tied the game for the first time with 3 minutes, 10 seconds left off a layup. Senior guard Drue Britton gave the Falcons their first lead by splitting a pair of free throws, and 10 seconds later Rota’s Jad Acutim drove to the bucket to give the Admirals the lead again at 34-33.
On Bahrain’s next possession, junior shooting guard Jimnah Niyi-Yusuf sunk a floater that rimmed in, out and back in to retake the lead with 2:02 left.
The Falcons didn’t trail the rest of the way.
“It felt really great to have that lead and not go down and stay with that lead,” Niyi-Yusuf said.
Naples guard Ryan Hernandez goes up for a shot after driving along the baseline as Aviano forward Brylee Hillis tries to block it during pool play of the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 11, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Bahrain's Jimmah Niyi-Yusuf shoots over Rota forward Lucca Guido during pool play of the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 11, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
American Overseas School of Rome forward Ali Ceke goes up for a shot as Sigonella guard Jacob Maloney defends during pool play of the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 11, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Vicenza guard Cristian Rodriguez blocks a shot by Black Forest Academy’s Samuel Batluck during pool play of the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 11, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Black Forest Academy guard Leo Hemphill dribbles past Naples guard Ryan Hernandez during pool play of the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 11, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Britton led Bahrain with 15 points – 13 in the second half. Niyi-Yusuf chipped in with 14.
Wednesday’s action leaves the Falcons in uncharted waters. One win against either seventh-seeded American Overseas School of Rome or second-seeded Sigonella should have Bahrain advance to its first semifinal in more than a decade.
It won’t be easy, as the Jaguars needed a 10-0 run at the end to defeat AOSR 36-33.
“We’re going to go into (Thursday) a little bit stronger because we know we’re one step away from the semifinals – we’ve never been this close,” Britton said. “It’s going to be a challenge for other teams, and they better look out.”
Bahrain wasn’t the only boys team to pull off a late comeback.
Black Forest Academy trailed Naples by eight points heading into the fourth quarter before rallying for a 51-45 victory.
The Falcons outscored the Wildcats 18-4 in the final frame.
That performance marked the second comeback on the day for BFA. The Falcons trailed Vicenza by 13 points late in the third quarter of their first game before making it a one-possession game.
The top-seeded Cougars held on to win that one 46-42.
“We’re not exactly a fourth-quarter team like that, but we needed it desperately both times today,” BFA coach Taylor Hemphill said. “The biggest thing is our guys just believing in themselves and believing that we can come back when we’re in the hole.”
Hemphill pointed out a defensive change as the key to the fourth-quarter shutdown against the Wildcats.
Opening in 3-2 and 1-2-2 zones, the Falcons switched to man defense in the third quarter. Naples gashed them for 16 points.
Hemphill switched to a 2-3 zone in the fourth, and it made the difference.
“That’s our bread and butter,” Hemphill said of the 2-3 zone. “I think our guys feel most comfortable in a 2-3. They know where to be and how to shift.”
Leo Hemphill paced the Falcons with 18 points, while Uriah Trusty added another 15.
BFA just needs a win against Aviano on Thursday to book its ticket into the semifinals.
Vicenza guard Jenina Smith goes up for a layup against Bahrain during pool play of the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 11, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Aviano guard Ily Zamora leads Naples defenders Emma Garcia, background center, and Savannah Ingram during pool play of the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 11, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Aviano forward Gigi Fortuna shoots against American Overseas School of Rome during pool play of the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 11, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Bahrain guard Anya Dinkler dribbles through Vicenza defenders Yareli Telles, and Natalia Lopez during pool play of the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 11, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Sigonella guard Bobby Gibbons prepares to dribble through a pair of American Overseas School of Rome defenders inccluding forward Saverio Nazzi, right, during pool play of the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 11, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Marymont point guard Gael Grant Rios passes the ball against Sigonella during pool play of the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 11, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Speaking of Aviano, the girls bounced back from a disappointing opening loss to top-seeded AOSR, beating Naples 23-21.
The Saints jumped out to seven-point halftime lead but went cold from the field in the second half. The Wildcats had opportunities to tie or gain the lead but failed to take advantage.
Aviano guard Ily Zamora, who paced the Saints with nine points, said the players leaned on each other against Naples.
“Just remembering who we’re doing it for, remembering that we’re playing for our team,” Zamora said. “We’ve already worked this hard to not let down last minute.”
A win against Marymount on Thursday morning will seal the Saints’ spot in the semifinals.
Black Forest Academy guard Esther Lee dribbles past Rota guard Jourdan Timmons during pool play of the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 11, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Sigonella center Mozi Okechukwu passes the ball ahead of Rota's Claire Deisley, center left, and Jeanice DeSilva during pool play of the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 11, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Rota point guard Jeanice DeSilva shoots over Black Forest Academy center Lydia Moore during pool play of the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 11, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Maymount forward Mayar Knelifar shoots over Naples center Julliana Innocenti during pool play of the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 11, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Naples guard Emily Anderson dribbles past Marymount forward Tatyana Chawota during pool play of the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 11, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Aviano forward Cooper Oakley looks to pass the ball as Naples guard Jeremiah Robinson defends during pool play of the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 11, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
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